Zip Line!

I learned about a camp in Spring Valley that was having a family day out adventure program. For just 5 dollars a person we could do an obstacle course, maze activity, zip lining, and scavenger hunt. We had a fantastic time and even though it got cut short on time we had a nice time together as a family. The weather was great and momma was feeling good. 

The high light of the trip was the zipline. We timed it wrong and got to the zipline right before a group of Girl Scouts. We had to wait for over an hour. But the boys did it and then they finally got to ZIP! All three of them did great. No fear!

Nap Time!

My little boy does not like nap time. He has gotten to the point that I have to lay with him for over 30 minutes before he falls asleep. Then at night he is awake at least an hour after bedtime unable to sleep. If he does not get a nap things in the evening our soooo hard. He won't listen well, cries a lot, and just can't function. So Momma is fighting hard for nap time. I know most people say my kid wouldn't sleep after age 2, well that is not happening here, he needs his rest!

Game Night!

These two boys are something else. One minutes they fight, the next they are ailly together. 

New Shoes!

One of my major pit falls before Callie was born was buying up cute shoes. And now when she can wear them, she can't keep them on her feet. But they were just too cute to pass up. 

Callie actually received these shoes from a lady on our church at the surprise baby shower they threw for me. The shoes are adorable. Callie was so intrigued by them. She actually rubbed her feet together again and again because she enjoyed the sound they made. 

Time to Go Home!

The time has come for Grandma to depart from our home. She stayed 15 days with us and did so many things to keep the house up and running. It wouldn't have happened without her help and very hard work!

Grandma rode the train home to Grandma Sparks'. Originally when Grandpa and Grandma came they met at Grandma Sparks' because of their previous plans (Mom in KS City). So long story short, the truck was at Grandma's home. So mom spent a few days with Grandma before heading back home to Ames. 

There is a funny story behind this picture. My children get very out of sorts when life is not "normal". Normal routine, people at our home, meals at specific times, etc. My surgery was definitely at of the norm and having Grandma in our home for 15 days was also not normal. So my children do not act right, sleep right, or communicate right. Change is not their forte. Well we had to take Grandma to the train station after school so things got a bit thrown off. Joel didn't nap and Cade just needed to run around the town about fifteen times with his energy (or lack there of but he gets more talkative and wiggly the more tired he gets). 

When we got to the train station Grandma asked the boys to stay in the vehicle while we got her things out. I helped carry the light things and we went inside the station for 2 minutes to check the train status. When Mom and I came back out and started to walk to the van, Cade was standing out the side peeing into the parking lot. Yep. My Mom and I just looked at each other and laughed. I had no words. I still have no words. I was mad. I was laughing. I was flustered. What was going through the kids' brain. He is almost 8 years old and he opens the van door and just let's it out in a public parking lot. He said he couldn't hold it and he couldn't be out of the van and he HAD to go. Of course he didn't mention that the 2 minutes before when I had been at the van. Oh my. And that was the goodbye we gave Grandma. Truly I love having people over to my house but I have not figured out how to parent my children so they behave correctly - calm, cool, collected. What a journey.

Grandma with Cade's puddle on the ground 

Sunday Photo Shoot!

When you have a gift as beautiful as this, who can't resist taking her picture again and again and again! I got Callie a few new dresses, and she will probably be able to wear them just a couple times. So Sunday has become photo shoot day. So cute!! 

Dress #1!

Bath time!

Grandma was so good at giving Callie baths when she was here. I think she got bathed more in the two weeks than I bathed her in six months. It was just such a cold winter and I hated making her cold. Thanks Grandma for giving us a fresh baby every other day!

Spilled Milk

Grandma has been keeping the house running since momma has been out of commission. She has gone and grocery shopped for us, done laundry, cooked, washed dishes, picked up, vacuumed, and more. She graciously has loved us through all our mess. 

On Saturday evening the 26th of April she went and grocery shopped before dinner. We held out to eat dinner with her, so when she got home the boy went out to help her carry items in. Unfortunately we had a mishap. Cade set a gallon of milk on the railing of the porch and it ended up crashing to the concrete and spilling all over. He felt awful and came in the house sobbing. Curtis got to teach him the saying, "don't cry over spilled milk." Funny thing was Cade laughed in the midst of his sobs and said "Dad that fits perfectly." It was pretty cute. And really it was a good lesson that is was just spilled milk. There really is no reason to cry. Yes it is said to see $4 spilled all over the driveway I do have to admit, but it is not worth squishing my son's heart by yelling at him. Oh to have the grace and patience my husband has in so many situations that I want to scream. 

6 Month Photo Shoot

Callie Mae Odell. 6 Months old - April 25

Zearing Park

We enjoyed a trip to Zearing Park in Friday, April 25. It was Callie's first swing ride at Zearing Park. Both boys pushed her and laughed with her and smile. They love her dearly. It was a beautiful day. Grandma graciously played tag with the boys. Though her knee is often hurting, she still pushes through it and has fun with the boys. Though I get frustrated at times that they are very demanding, they love her so much and just want to play. 

Rolling!

She doesn't stay on her back very long anymore. She is a roller!

Grandma Glenna

Callie hasn't been fond of many people holding her and has always preferred her momma. My surgery changed her. She had to be okay with others. Yes, there are still moments when only momma will do, but overall she has transformed to be happy with many people. The main person she has grown to love most is Grandma Glenna. She stops fussing and rests in Grandma's arms. It helps that Grandma has been around for over 2 weeks helping in our home. Grandma has just become a regular to her. It has been so special to see what had been a screaming and crying baby when she saw Grandma Glenna at Christmas to smiles, laughter, and cuddles at Easter time. 

Favorite Spot!

Callie's bassinet is her favorite sleeping spot. Since I have been limited in my carrying of Callie, she has developed a greater bond with we bassinet. She can sleep in it for hours. Oh I never want to forget this preciousness!

Awana Cubbies

Miss Beverly and the Awana Cubbies presented their final program on April 23. Beverly had each child recite a verse, and the kids sang a few songs. It was a special time. 

Softball Practice

Curtis took the boys to softball practice with him and the rest was history! Yes, Joel enjoyed making dirt angels during practice. What could be more fun on a ball diamond than rolling in the dirt, nothing! Oh, to be a child again, the innocence and joy!

Grandpa and Callie

Laughter and smiles!

My Wonderful Parents

I feel like I can't say enough about the love and sacrifice my parents have for me. They are always willing, always working, and always giving. They never ask for paybacks. They make my "dreams" possible. They encourage me to keep on keeping and to be the best I can be. Though my dreams are quite practical, they help to make them happen, and always want to lighten my load. A college education. Hardwood floors in my house. Mulch in my flower garden. Gas in my gas tank. Iowa state Fair adventures year after year. Clothes for my family. What special people they are. I will love you forever, like you for always, as long as I am living my parents you will be. Thank you Mom and Dad. 

Sitting Up

Callie is sitting up on her own. It is usually for less than a minute but she is doing it! She is also starting to play with more toys. This bee was Joel's favorite, and it looking to be Callie's too. 

Happy Easter from the Bents Family!

I received this great picture on Easter morning from my brother. What a treasure!

Easter Celebtation

The boys started off thei Easter Day going with Grandpa Bill to church. I came with Callie in time to enjoy the yummy breakfast. Grandma stayed home so she could help me carry Callie from home to the van. She also prepared food for our Easter lunch while I was gone at church. I didn't stay for the service, but enjoyed my hour of freedom out of the home for the first time in 5 days! 

We had a fun Easter egg hunt at Pop and Grandma's house in Wyanet with our cousins. Abree, Maylah, Gloria, Allison, Isaac, and Hailey all joined in on the hunt. We hid over 200 eggs! Each child was able to hunt and hunt and hunt. Many actually started opening their eggs before all if the eggs were found. Cade and Joel, though, searched to the end!

Pop carved the turkey. We also are his delicious venicen roast he claimed last fall. 

Grandma Glenna and Grandpa Bill joined us for the day too. I think this was possibly the first Easter they have been with us since we were married. Callie even smiled for the picture. How precious. 

Happy Easter from the Kids!

Happy Easter from my beautiful gifts from God! They are amazing blessings and I am speechless of why God gave them to me. I am so unfit. I am so thankful for God sending His Son Jesus Christ  to take my sin upon him so that I can have life. I am worthless without the sacrifice of Christ. Thank you for your grace Jesus Christ! 

Happy Easter!

Easter was just 6 days after my surgery. I was feeling well enough to go to church for an hour for breakfast. I drove but couldn't carry Callie. We got some gret family pictures and you would never know I was cut open just a few days prior!

Joy!

Callie was amazing during the process of my surgery. She did so well with Bev the day of my surgery. She took the bottle and hardly fussed. Even the two days after when I was in so much pain and trying to keep going, she was so patient. Sometimes she would take the bottle and I would pump if I was in too much pain. I was using oils to control my pain so my milk was not affected. It was such a blessing to not have to dump my milk. She is a gem. I love her so much. 

Hernia Surgery - April 14

I developed a hernia during my pregnancy with Callie. It wasn't fun and caused me a lot of pain the last 3 months  of the pregnancy. After Callie was born I didn't even know I had a hernia. I had no pain and nothing was sticking out of my belly. I was still encouraged to go talk to the surgeon. Kicking and screaming I went and when he poked at my belly he found it. And it hurt when he poked. He thought it was small and would be an easy fix. Easy. Surgery. Easy. Yeah right. So we scheduled the surgery. I planned everything out so we could make it happen. It wasn't a pretty couple weeks but I am feeling better almost three weeks out. 

The biggest hiccup in the surgery process was that the pain meds (morphine they have me when I woke) put my bladder and bowels to sleep. I couldn't go potty after my surgery. I was up every 30 minutes in the night trying to go. It was awful and I was in so much pain. The next day I had 1800 ccs drained from my bladder (almost 2 liters!). It was not fun. 

After my bladder and bowels woke then I learned to deal with the pain of the incision and healing of the piece of mesh the surgeon used to fix my 1.7cm hernia. Nursing Callie was a challenge. Walking was a challenge. Sitting was a challenge. No cuddling was a challenge. I felt like I had often cut in half. I still do not enjoy wearing button up pants (which I could do 3 days after Callie was born). And the biggest pain is the 10 pound lifting weight limit. I know it is a small hiccup in life and nothing compared to what many people deal with. It is hard for me, though, to be down and unable to do. Giving birth and the recovery of it was easier than this. I do not like drugs or foreign things in my body.

 It was a blessing my mom came and stayed for over two weeks. I really don't know how we would have done it. Keeping this house going is a full time job. 

So this is a picture of my toes prior to surgery. I made the mistake of getting a pedicure two days prior. Not a good idea because they had to take the polish off my big toes to make sure my blood was circulating during surgery. Sadness. I did find the exact same polish on amazon while waiting for surgery and ordered it so I painted them a few days later. I only looked silly for a few days.